Psychopathology AND Religious Experience? Toward a Both–And View
Tasia Scrutton
Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology September 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1353/ppp.2024.a937768 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the common assumption that voice hearing must be either psychopathology or genuine religious experience is too restrictive. After finding several 'both–and' accounts problematic or under-evidenced, the author proposes that genuine religious experience can arise out of situations involving psychopathology, and discusses clinical and pastoral implications. |
Abstract
Abstract: Psychiatric literature about when instances of voice hearing should be regarded as religiously inflected psychopathology and when they should be regarded as religious experiences sometimes presupposes that a person’s experience can only be either psychopathological, or else a genuine religious experience. In this paper I will consider an alternative: the possibility of a both–and account. A both–and account might involve the idea that a religious experience causes psychopathology, or is psychopathology, or that people open to religious experiences may also be susceptible to psychopathology. After arguing that these are either problematic or under-evidenced, I will argue for another version of a both–and account: that genuine religious experience can arise out of situations involving psychopathology. I will also point to some of the clinical and pastoral implications of my view.